Magazine Strip with Central Elevation for Screw Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magazine strips for fastening elements are expensive to manufacture and often fail to prevent screw tilting or feed issues, especially when using screws with sealing washers, leading to unreliable transfer into feed devices.
Innovation Solution
A magazine strip with an elastically resilient locking member and a centrally arranged elevation that ensures smooth transfer of fasteners by preventing contact between screw heads and the actuating mechanism, featuring a three-point bearing for secure guidance and using a locking member that can be actuated by the feed device to release screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a captive device with spring element is used to prevent screws from escaping, then screw retention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the locking function from a separate captive device and integrates it directly into the magazine strip structure through the locking member that protrudes into the receiving space, eliminating the need for complex spring elements and notches while maintaining screw retention
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is merged with the magazine strip body, combining the retention function with the structural framework of the magazine strip itself, thereby simplifying the overall device while maintaining effective screw captivity
2Ease of operation
If unlocking mechanism contacts screw head to release screws, then screw release is achieved, but screw tilting occurs during unlocking process
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation acts as an intermediary element between the screw head and the unlocking mechanism, allowing the unlocking mechanism to actuate the locking member without directly contacting the screw head, thus preventing screw tilting while enabling effective release
Solution Approach 2:
The elevation creates a vertical dimension that separates the horizontal plane of screw head contact from the vertical plane of locking member actuation, allowing independent movement of the unlocking mechanism without affecting screw alignment
3Reliability
If sealing washers with larger diameter than screw heads are used, then sealing function is improved, but feed problems occur due to sealing washers sliding over one another
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation provides localized support specifically at the screw head position, creating a three-point bearing system that stabilizes the screw shank and prevents sealing washers from sliding over one another during feed movement, while maintaining the sealing function of the washers
4Reliability
If complex captive devices are used for screw retention, then screw retention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine strip with integrated locking member is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and potentially replaced, eliminating the need for expensive complex captive devices while maintaining effective screw retention throughout the magazine strip's service life
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective and reliable transfer of screws into the feed device, preventing tilting and ensuring efficient feeding, even with screws having sealing washers, by ensuring the screw heads do not contact the actuating mechanism and providing a stable guidance system.
Implementation Method 1
a base wall (2) having an elastically resilient locking member (10) on at least one end section of the magazine strip (1) which can be actuated by a corresponding actuating means of the feed device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The cartridge strip (1) has sidewalls (3) that are perpendicularly extended from base wall (2). The free ends (4) of sidewalls are angled to form a receiving space for heads (8a) of fastening element (8), and a through-gap for shanks (8b) of fastening element. A resilient locking element (10) is projected into the space to retain the fastening element. A protrusion (5) is formed along the center of base wall for supporting the heads, whose height is set such that the elements are released from the locking element in actuated state of the locking element. An independent claim is included for arrangement of fastening element in cartridge strip.